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Contents

Plot

Fergus, a small traction engine on rails, has been sent to work at the quarry for an important job. Thomas warns him about Bill and Ben, but Fergus tells him that he won't let the twins bother him.

When Fergus arrives, Mavis tells him that the trucks are in a mess, but Fergus promises to sort them out. But Bill and Ben are fill of mischief, and decide to have some fun.
Bill bumps his trucks very hard, causing some of his load to fall onto the tracks. Fergus tells him to do it right, but Bill is cross and tells him not to interfere. Later, Ben pushes his trucks across some points, so that Fergus can't leave his siding. He orders Ben to move them, but Ben just grins.

The workmen are blasting rock, so Fergus tells the twins to wait for the all clear signal. But they are fed up with his orders, and crossly tell him to keep his funnel out of the quarry. Then they leave to collect a rock crusher from the docks, leaving Fergus in peace with Mavis.

At the docks, the twins are still grumbling about Fergus. They decide that the next time he tells them to do it right, they'll do it wrong on purpose. Bill and Ben collect the rock crusher and head back to the quarry.

When they arrive, Fergus warns them that the rock face is unsafe, and not to go near it. But Bill and Ben take no notice, and push the rock crusher alongside the rocks. Suddenly rocks begin to fall from the top of the cliff. Fergus charges forward and pushes the twins out of the way. His driver jumps clear, but Fergus ends up buried in a pile of rocks. Everyone works hard to dig him out, but Bill and Ben work hardest of all.

When Fergus is free, Bill and Ben shamefully apologise for being naughty. Fergus happily decides that from now on, they can all do things right together.

In a still picture, Thomas, Fergus, Annie, and Clarabel were facing the other way at Maithwaite.

According to a SiF interview with Chris Lloyd, Fergus' model was damaged in the landslide scene. It could still run, but the flywheel no longer turned and the model no longer puffed steam. This may be why the character was dropped after the seventh season.

Goofs

When Fergus arrives at the quarry, Percy is seen pulling trucks to the left across the bridge. A few seconds later, 'Arry is - impossibly - seen pushing trucks to the right across the bridge.

When Bill and Ben are at the docks, they are seen side-by-side, but when they push the rock crusher away, they are suddenly both on the same track.

The landslide occurred near a rock face where the rails ended. No points were seen during the aerial shot of the area, so it is impossible that Bill and Ben managed to get behind Fergus when he pushed them forwards.

The narrator says Fergus' driver jumped clear, but, just before the rocks fall on Fergus, his driver is still visible in his cab.